On
October 28, 2012 the President cancelled campaign events to monitor hurricane
Sandy and met with FEMA; Romney went to Ohio. October 29 Obama signed emergency
declarations, spoke with all the Governors, received a full briefing from FEMA,
the Department of Energy, Transportation, Defense, Homeland Security, and Health
and Human Services. The President told us that local, state and federal
governments were working together, listen to officials so we don’t have
unnecessary risk to first responders – they have to be in multiple states at
the same time; gave a website for assistance, reminded people that because of
the damage and winds it’ll take a while for responders to reach them; said in times
like this we pull together (people as far away as California headed east to
help). A reporter asked – what about the election and Obama said he wasn’t
worried about the election right now, it’ll take care of itself – he was worried
about families, first responders, the economy and transportation, saving lives,
making sure search and rescue is in place, people getting food, water and
shelter they need, and that we respond quickly enough to get the economy back
on track.
October
30 Republican New Jersey (NJ) Governor Chris Christie on NBC’s Today show said
“It’s a major disaster. We have battered, battered NJ shore that I hope to tour
a little bit later on today, but I think the losses are going to be almost
incalculable.” Christie said “I was on the phone at midnight again last night
with the President personally, the President has been outstanding in this and
so have the folks of FEMA, Craig Fugate and his folks have been excellent”. Instead
of helping the Red Cross, Romney spent $5,000 and turned an Ohio rally (had the stage, big flag, campaign
music, supporters and shirts) into a makeshift aid effort with can goods and
other supplies for victims of the storm. Romney handed out water and took the
time to say – a lot of people will still be looking for goods even though we’ve
gathered these things, one of the things I learned in life is you make the
difference where you can. Romney ignored questions about FEMA; we were reminded
that during a June 13, 2011 CNN debate when talking about FEMA he said “Every
time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and
send it back to the states, that’s the right direction. And if you can go
further and send it back to the private sector that’s even better.” Now, he believes
FEMA has a major role to play in providing hurricane relief (another
turnaround). On October 31 we have kids in New York talking to Elmo about the storm – something they
probably won’t get to do if Romney is elected. The President visited NJ
and he and Christie had nothing but good things to say about one another. Romney in Florida didn’t criticize
the President, he said – we can’t go on the road we’re on, we can’t change
course in America if we keep attacking each other, we’ve got to come together
and get America on track again; while this goes on the automakers protest
Romney’s Jeep ads in Ohio that say Chrysler was sold to the Italians who plan
on making the cars in China – Biden in Florida said it’s another lie and a
cynical thing to do. The sad part is none of Romney’s ill or Obama’s right
behaviors makes a difference in the polls.
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